The Other Bennet Sister starts tonight on BBC1 8pm

[IwantToRetire]

Seemingly unremarkable and often overlooked, Mary Bennet longs to win her family’s approval.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002qkp3

Is this going to be a spoof or some sort of spin off ?

2nd episode tonight at 8:30

Couldn't see a thread so hope this isn't a duplicate!

I absolutely loved this, I’m a massive JA fan and thought this was brilliant fan fiction. I’d hope Jane would approve.

I was keen on Ruth Jones as Mrs Bennet which was a shame as I normally love her in everything but I thought she was too one dimensional. I prefer Brenda Blethyns version. I never had her down as nasty and cruel to any of her girls, RJs seemed to really hate poor Mary.

I loved the scene between Elizabeth and Mary when Mary tells her about her indecent proposal. It was so well done and beautifully acted.

I loved all the nods to other JA books.

I wanted to save the series for Sundays but couldn’t help myself and binged it today 🙈 will watch again on Sunday evenings though..

I was just thinking of a common theme - the heroine getting caught in a storm, being so terribly ill while the hero waits in agony. Doesn't it happen in both P&P and S&S in a similar kind of way? I remember Lizzie after a walk having to stay with Mr D but perhaps he wasn't so worried about her. I can't remember how Marianne gets ill but I'm sure she does!

In P&P Lizzie stays at Netherfield to look after Jane, who gets caught in the rain after Mrs B insists she rides to see Miss Bingley rather take the carriage.

I’m S&S Marianne gets caught in a storm after going out to gaze longingly into the distance for Willoughby (after hearing he is engaged), being found and rescued by Col Brandon.

In S&S doesn't the doctor give Marianne a small glass of brandy?

I remember reading that and thinking WTF - that's what you've got to offer?!

It was probably very easy to get hypothermia in those clothes though.

The storm, the hurt ankle and being ill while the love interest look on is all sense and sensibility.

Jane gets a bad cold after getting caught in the rain on her way to see Bingley in P&P but isn’t seriously ill. Although I suppose in those days even a common cold could potentially kill you 😬

It does seem quite silly now to think of women getting ill from getting caught in the rain but I suppose with thin dresses & unsuitable shoes they would get wet & cold easily.

In one of JA's letters, I think she was going to Winchester for her health & a couple of brothers were riding & it had rained & she was concerned for them.

The problem would be getting warm and dry, and drying the clothes.

I wonder how many husbands would be involved in finding wives for their daughters though?

He introduced himself to Bingley when Bingley took Netherfield for example.

I did also wonder about how rude Mrs Bennet was at taking over at both Pemberley & the Gardiners.

People who she would be reliant on for the rest of her life.

Would it really be accepted or would someone have words?

I think the Gardiners were relying on distance to form a natural barrier, but I like to think Mrs Gardiner had said at some point, "If it comes down to it, it's me or your sister..." !

Pemberley seemed to be infested with ALL the Bennets, which is not what P&P said happened. Why was Jane there so much? Where was Mr Bingley? I guess Mr Wickham was at war, but where was Kitty's husband - was he another soldier?

I mean DH and I only have the one sibling each but neither of us would want to co-habit with either of them for so much as a night.

In that regard, hurray for the 21st century!!!

Yes, Lost in Austen was great - still remember that line - “Ooh, smoulder alert!!”

Didn't Mrs Bennet go to Pemberley initially when Mr Bennet died?

I assumed that the daughters had gathered to support her but no one was in mourning.

Maybe I blinked & missed it!

Was Anne de Bourgh ever mentioned?

Yes I think so, but in TOBS Jane says she'll have her, after significant eye contact from Elizabeth (but maybe they take turns for sanity!) it also said in P&P that the Wickhams used to outstay their welcome with the Bingleys and that Elizabeth and Jane often visited each other and that Kitty spent most of her time with Jane and Elizabeth. But the events in LOBS postdate those because Mr Bennet's still alive at the end of P&P.

It was implied by Mr Ryder being named as Lady Catherine's heir that Anne de Bourgh had died I thought. She is described as very sickly in P&P.

I chuckled at the bits in TOBG about Mr Darcy 'insisting' that Mrs B. benefited from a top-notch physician in London. I bet he'd have paid any amount of money to have her off his hands for a few weeks or so.

Poor thing was possibly pre-menopausal or even menopausal, too, and perhaps suffering symptoms that were unspeakable and definitely would have impacted her mood.

I watched all of it. Loved it. The girl who plays Mary played the part so well amazing actress

All the Bennet sisters were assembled at Pemberley because Mrs Bennet was at death's door/seeking attention.

My understanding is that in those days, people would visit and stay for weeks rather than a day or two. Makes sense when travel takes days and days.

I could handle my mother staying with me for months if I had a house the size of Pemberley and could go for a ride in my grounds to scream for a bit each day. Bit harder in modern houses...

Anyway. I am going to rewatch this weekend. I loved it. And may watch P&P (1995, obvs) and Lost in Austen too.

I was never sure if she was really ill or just treated that way!

I had quite hoped she might get away from her mother & flourish!

All the Bennet sisters were assembled at Pemberley because Mrs Bennet was at death's door/seeking attention.

Or course, thank you!

So maybe mourning was over by then, Mrs Bennet had stayed with who she could & was back to Pemberley?

Me too.

I was kind of disappointed Lady Catherine didn't get a walk on in LOBS. She's such an amazing, awful character!

And staff! Hill had obviously absorbed a LOT over the years.

I ❤️ the scene where she was reading the letter with Mary's wedding cake.

I think Ruth Jones was excellent as Mrs Bennet, just as Tanya Reynolds was superb as Caroline Bingley - high comedy. These toxic characters are played very much tongue-in-cheek, and that makes them even more exquisite in my view. The way Caroline winced when trying to say anything less than spiteful was a joy to behold!

I also loved Ruth Jones as Flora Finching in Little Dorrit. The moment where she bounces in and snaps Arthur out of his wistful, romantically nostalgic reverie made me laugh out loud.

I didn't realise she was also a writer 🤯🤩🤩🤩 and have just ordered Love Untold, which looks fantastic!

One thing I really enjoyed about the series was imagining the modern equivalents of each character. I saw William Ryder as one of those earnest intellectual hippies who wants you to give up your career to see the world in a campervan and eventually live off grid.

I could never warm to Tom Hayward. He had weird stalker eyes.

www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Untold-Ruth-Jones-ebook/dp/B094MV4W5B

I thought Tom was a bit weird looking at first but he really grew on me and I thought he had kind, soft eyes (especially when looking at/talking with Mary) and a gentle smile. His teeth were far too 21st century though!!

Oh god yes, the teeth were terrifying! and highly anachronistic...

Ruth Jones' books are great, although took a book or two to get her rhythm. Love Untold is my favourite